The Manual Transmission Isn't Dead—It's Just Resting

Every year, the automotive press publishes another obituary for the manual transmission. Sales figures don’t lie—less than 2% of new cars sold in the United States come with a stick shift. Major manufacturers are dropping manual options from their lineups. The death knell is ringing, right?

Not so fast.

The Enthusiast Market Remains Strong

While mainstream buyers have moved on to automatics and EVs, enthusiast-focused vehicles continue to offer—and sell—manual transmissions. The Porsche 911, Honda Civic Type R, and Mazda MX-5 Miata all prove that when you build a driver’s car, people want to shift for themselves.

Take the new Toyota GR Corolla. Despite being offered in both manual and automatic variants, over 80% of buyers choose the stick shift. This isn’t an anomaly—it’s a pattern we see across performance-oriented vehicles.

More Than Just Nostalgia

Critics dismiss manual transmission advocates as nostalgic luddites clinging to the past. But anyone who’s driven a well-sorted manual on a twisty road knows there’s more to it than nostalgia. The mechanical connection, the ability to precisely control power delivery, the engagement of the driving experience—these aren’t just sentimental talking points.

Modern automatics and DCTs are objectively faster and more efficient. I won’t dispute that. A PDK-equipped Porsche will outrun its manual counterpart every time. But “faster” isn’t always “better” when it comes to driving enjoyment.

The Preservation Efforts

Interestingly, some manufacturers are doubling down on manuals. Hyundai recently announced that all future N performance models will offer a manual option. Mazda continues to develop and refine their manual transmissions, treating them as a core part of their “Jinba Ittai” (horse and rider as one) philosophy.

BMW’s decision to offer a manual in the M2 was reportedly driven by customer demand—enough customers that they’re willing to maintain a separate production line for a transmission that only a fraction of buyers will choose.

The Electric Elephant in the Room

The real threat to manual transmissions isn’t automatics—it’s electrification. EVs don’t need multi-speed transmissions at all. As more vehicles go electric, the manual transmission will naturally fade from new car showrooms.

But here’s the thing: the enthusiast market doesn’t just buy new cars. There’s a thriving market for used sports cars, classic vehicles, and modified machines. As long as there are roads to drive on, there will be people who want to row their own gears.

A Niche Worth Preserving

The manual transmission is becoming a niche product, yes. But niche doesn’t mean dead. It means specialized, focused, and preserved by those who truly value it. In an increasingly automated world, the act of shifting gears yourself becomes not obsolete, but special.

Manufacturers who continue offering manuals aren’t being stubborn or backwards—they’re serving a loyal customer base willing to pay for the privilege of more engagement. And as long as that market exists, the manual transmission will survive.

So no, the manual isn’t dead. It’s just becoming exclusive. And for those of us who love them, that’s not entirely a bad thing.